Transmission belt and joint therefor



Nov. 9, 1937. c, L, PAULUS 2,098,155

TRANSMISSION BELT AND JOINT THEREFOR Filed June 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 7 INVENTOR.

M M, H16 ATTORNEYS.

Cfr/Murs Ew. as.

Nov. 9, 1937. c. PAULUs TRANSMISSION BELT AND JOINT THEREFOR Filed June 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 En; lllIlllnu Ill-,r1 ...Ecimlh INVENTOR fmezfs a as;

7M ...l ZI

BY wzl HIJ ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE TRANSMISSION BELT AND JOINT THEREFOR poration of Delaware Application June 25, 1936, Serial No. 87,264

8 Claims.

This invention relates to grefrigeration and particularly to driving connections between an element of a refrigerating system to be driven and a driving element.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved connecting structure between the ends of a strip of belting material to form a continuous or substantially endless belt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection between the ends of belting material employed to form a substantially endless band which connectio-n will increase the tensil strength of the band near the end portions thereof above that at points remote from the ends without stiffening the belt soI as to prolong its life.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connection between the ends of a belt which connection will distribute forces applied to the belt between the end portions thereof and points remote from the end portions to prevent damage to or breakage of the substantially endless belt at the ends thereof.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further and more specic object of the invention to provide a connection between the ends of a belt, particularly a belt of V shape in crosssection, which connection will have its fastening portions or members disposed in vertical alignment with the axis of rotation of the belt about a pulley to thus prevent abnormal deformation of the belt during operations thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a refrigerating system installed in or on a vehicle and having my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a belt, partly in section and partly in elevation, mounted upon a pulley and having the ends thereof connected together in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the belt and pulley disclosed in Fig. 2 and taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the belt disclosed in Fig. 2 and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of a belt showing a modied connecting construction between the ends thereof;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the belt disclosed in Fig. 5 and is taken on the line 6 6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a view of a modified form of belt having a wire disposed therein and extending throughout the length thereof;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the connection of the ends of a belt of the type disclosed in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line II--II of Fig. 10 showing one form of attaching the wire of the belt disclosed in Figs. 9 and l0 to the belt end connecting means.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating the present invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 thereof a railway car generally represented by the reference character I and having a compartment or compartments therein adapted to be cooled. The car I0 has a closed refrigerating system associated therewith andthe system includes a cooling element o-r evaporator II, mounted in the compartment of the car to be cooled, a compressor I2, a motor I3 and a condenser I4. The evaporator Il, compressor I2 and condenser I4 are all connected together by suitable conduits for circulating a refrigerating medium therebetween to cause the cooling element II to produce a refrigerating effect in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The compressor I2, motor I3 and condenser I4 are mounted beneath the car I0 in any suitable and wellknown manner and may be cooled by air during travel of the car. The motor I3 may be driven from wheels I of car I0 by suitable connections or provisions may be made for operating the motor electrically as is common practice in the art. In either event motor I3, which is the drive element for the driven member or compressor I2, is provided with a pulley I6 which has three grooves formed in its peripheral edge. A pulley I1 similar in construction to the motor pulley I6 is mounted on the crank-shaft of compressor I2 and these pulleys I6 and I1 are operatively connected together by a plurality of belts 2| so that operation of motor I3 drives cornpressor I2 to circulate the refrigerating medium throughout the closed refrigerating system. Since my invention relates to the driving connection between the compressor I2 and motor I3 a more detailed description of the car ID and the closed refrigerating system associated therewith is believed unnecessary.

'Ihe driving connection between compressor I2 and motor I3 is preferably of the type wherein the motor and compressor pulleys I6 and I1 have a plurality of substantially V-shaped grooves 23 cut or formed in their cylindrical peripheral edge (see Fig. 3). The grooves 23 are adapted to receive belts 2l which engage the side walls of the grooves and which are spaced from the bottom walls thereof for operatively connecting the one pulley I6 with the other pulley I1. Such a driving connection is ordinarily referred to as a V- belt drive and my invention is particularly adapted to this type of driving connection. Each of the belts 2| are of the common rubber and fabric composition molded material ordinarily provided with a central longitudinally extending horizontal web portion 25 usually formed .of a plurality of long tough fabric cords or the like embedded in and having a layer of rubber on each side thereof. On each side of the web portion 25 there are provided in the layers of rubber a plurality of spaced apart grooves 26 extending transversely to the length of the belt 2I and these grooves 26 while aiding in keeping belt 2| cool also permit bending or flexing of the belt about a central axis such as occurs when the belt is mounted upon the pulleys I6 and I1. Each belt 2I has angled side walls 21 which engage the side walls of the V-shaped grooves 23 provided in the pulleys I6 and I1. The walls 28 of belt 2I extending upwardly from the walls 21 are disposed at an angle opposite the angled extension of walls 21 for purposes of facilitating production of the belts and for increasing the flexibility thereof.

I have found that certain of ordinary fastening means employed to connect the ends of belts, of the type disclosed to provide a substantially endless band, decrease the life of the belts due to their causing the immediate end portions of the belts to become weakened or torn after short periods of operation. My invention is therefore directed to a connection for the ends of such belts which will increase the life of the belts so as to obtain maximum service therefrom. In Fig. 2 of the drawings of the present disclosure the belt 2I has its ends 3| and 32 abutting one another and these ends are connected together to form a substantially endless band by a connecting structure to now be described. It will be noted that openings 33 and 34 extend inwardly from each end 3I and 32 respectively of belt 2I in the central web portion 25 thereof and that a metallic wire member 35 is disposed in the openings. The openings 33 and 34 may be formed in the belt 2l during molding thereof or these openings may be cut or drilled therein after the belt has been molded. Metal inserts 36 placed in openings 31, cut or formed in belt 2| vprior to insertion of wire 35 into openings 33 and 34, are provided with openings 38 through which the wire 35 extends. The metal inserts 36 extend transversely to the longitudinal extension of belt 2I through the central web portion 25 thereof near each end 3l and 32. A screw 3S is threaded into the metal inserts 36 and the ends of screws 39 tightly engage wire 35 to deform same within the hollow inserts (see Fig. 4) so as to prevent movement of the wire 35 within belt 2l relative to the inserts to thereby hold the ends 3l and 32 of belt 2l together to form a substantially endless band. The wire 35 is preferably of the socalled music wire type having extremely high tensil strength. A relatively small diameter wire of this material will be highly flexible and will equal the strength of a fabric and rubber composition belt of the typ-c described.

In order to distribute the tensil force applied to belt ZI to points remote from the ends 3l and 32 and from the inserts 36 located near these ends I place in belt 2l a pair of metal inserts 4I similar in construction and form to the inserts 36. It will be noted that each of the pair of inserts 4I are spaced from each of the metal inserts 36 and that screw i2 threaded into the inserts 4I also clamps against wire 35 to deform the wire within insert 4I in the saine manner as described relative to the clamping of screws 39 within inserts 36 against wire 35 (see Fig. 4). 'I'hus Wire 35 is secured within and attached to belt 2| at a plurality of spaced apart points inwardly of the ends 3I and 32 thereof to distribute the forces of a load placed upon the belt through the inserts 36 and 4I to parts of the belt remote from its ends. By extending the wire 35 beyond the metal inserts 4I bending forces imparted to the belt during its passage over pulleys is also distributed beyond the elements comprising the belt end connecting construction and this feature tends to prolong the life of the belt. The elastic limit of wire 35 is far greater than any section of belt 2I and it will withstand considerable twisting or bending so as not to reduce or impair the flexibility of belt 2| at the end connecting construction. It will be seen therefore that my invention permits the construction of substantially endless belts from strips cf belting material and that the tensil or pull force applied to belt 2| will be transmitted to a plurality of points remote from the connected ends thereof. My improved belt end connecting structure provides a belt wherein the portions thereof near its ends are substantially equal tc the other sectionsl thereof and wherein the immediate end portions of the belt are not weakened by ccnnecting means therefor. Thus my improved belt end connecting structure prolongs the life of the belt so as to obtain maximum service therefrom.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive of the drawings wherein I have shown a modified belt end connecting construction it will be noted that the ends 3Ia and 32a of belt 2 Ict are spaced from one another and connected by a metallic connecting device to now be described. Bolts or studs 46 pass through belt 2 la. through holes 41 extending transversely to the central longitudinal web portion 25 of belt 2Ia near the ends 3Ia and 32a. A yoke member 48 having its ends 49 secured to bolts 46 is provided with a slot 5I (see Fig. 5) through which a narrow portion 52 provided on a second yoke member 53, having its ends secured to the opposite bolt 46, extends. A small substantially U-shaped metal member 55 provided with forked ends 56 is interposed between the yoke members 48 and 53 (see Fig. 6). The forked ends 56 of member 55 engage a straight metal piece 51 which abuts against the narrowed portion 52 of yoke 53. It is to be understood that the members 55 and 51 are inserted between the yoke members 48 and 53, after these members have been assembled to belt 2i in overlapping or interlocking relation as disclosed in the drawings to provide a locked connection between the ends 3Ia and 32a of belt 2 Ia so as to provide a substantially endless band.

In order to distribute the tensil or pull force applied to belt 2Ia. to portions thereof remote from its ends 3 a and 32a, I insert a wire 6I having a head 62 formed thereon, within an opening 63 provided in the central web portion 25 of belt 21a. The wire 6| passes through an opening provided in a stud or bolt 46 at end 32a o f belt 2|a and has a portion thereof intermediate its ends clamped to belt 2|a in a manner to now be described. A stud or bolt 65 similar to and extending parallel with the stud or bolt 46 at the end 32a of belt Zia passes through an opening provided in the belt and this stud or bolt is provided with an opening 66 through which wire 6| extends. A collar or clamping member 61 surrounds bolt 65 on one side of wire 6| and is adapted to be forced, by tightening of the nut on bolt 65, against the wire 6| to slightly deform the wire (see Fig. 8) so as to clamp same firmly between the bolts i6 and 65 within belt 2 la. A construction similar to that just described as being mounted in the one end portion of belt 2 la is also incorporated in the other end portion 3|al of the belt. While the connecting construction described includes members passing through the belt 2 la at its ends 3|@ and 32a, it is obvious that, with the use of the additional bolts 65 and their rigid connection with bolts 46, the tensil or pull force applied to belt 2 la will be distributed to a point or points remote from the end portions thereof to thus prevent damage by clamping means at these ends to thereby prolong the life of the belt.

In illustrating the present invention I have shown the wire elements 35 and 6| as extending through that portion only of the belts 2| and 2 la adjacent the ends thereof but it is to be understood that my invention also contemplates the extension of a wire element within and entirely around the belts. As before stated belts of the type disclosed ordinarily have large tough fabrics or cords extending longitudinally within and molded in the central portion of the belts. A small opening can therefore be molded within the belt adjacent these fabrics or cords for reception of a wire for increasing the tensil strength of the belt by extending the wire' continuously around the belt. It is known that a wire or other metallic member placed in or molded within rubber will cause deterioration of the rubber by certain chemical reactions that take place between the rubber and metal. By providing an opening in the central part of a belt adjacent the fabric cords these cloth cords contact the metal instead of the metal contacting the rubber. Therefore the chemical reaction between metal inserts and rubber of a composition rubber and fabric belt is reduced or eliminated and the belt is not weakened by deterioration of the rubber which breaks down the carcass of the belt. Thus the belts of the present invention having the wire members inserted therein will not be subject to rapid deterioration and will be of longer life,

Referring now to Fig. 9 wherein I have disclosed a length of belt 2lb it will be understood that the one-piece length of wire 1| therein and extending continuously from one end to the other end of the belt is preferably disposed or molded in the belt adjacent the central fabrics or cords thereof. The belt length 2|bI preferably has loose ends with the ends 'l2 and 13 of wire 1| extending outwardly therefrom so as to be capable of forming an endless band over pulleys spaced apart at varying distances relative to one another. The belt 2lb may therefore be cut to any desired length and its ends connected in accordance with my invention to provide a properly fitted endless band between two or more pulleys. In Fig. l I have disclosed ends of belt 2 I b as being connected with the connecting construction illusimmediate end portions thereof.

trated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive but it will be noted that I have provided a modified form of bolt 15, corresponding to and disposed in the position of bolts 46 and 65 in the construction shown in Fig. 6, for the reception of wire The bolts 15 in the structure disclosed in Figs. l0 and 11 each have a slot 'I6 cut therein for receiving wire 1I. In cutting the belt 2lb to a desired length and fitting same over pulleys by the end connecting construction the bolts 'l5 are pushed through the belt with walls of slot 'i6 straddling wire '1| The ends 12 and 'I3 of belt 2lb are each then bent or deformed to provide enlarged end or head portions TI which engage theend bolts 15 and prevent movement of wire relative to the bolts. The collars 61 disposed over bolts l5, positioned remote from the end bolts, clamp against wire to further prevent movement of wire 'H relative to bolts 'l5 and to the belt 2lb. This wire is locked in position within belt 2lb and between the ends thereof. The novel connecting construction for the ends of belt 2lb causes force applied to the connection to be distributed to portions of the belt remote from its ends and over substantially all portions of the belt throughout its length. By extending the wire 'll throughout the length of belt 2lb as disclosed in Figs. 9 to l1 inclusive all portions of the endless band will be of substantially equal tensil strength and stretching of the band will be materially retarded or prevented.

In describing the present invention in connection with composition rubber and fabric belts of the type having molded or embedded therein plies of cords or fabrics it is well-known in the art that such belts have a certain ply or plies of strong tough fabric which forms what is commonly termed the neutral axis of the belt. This socalled neutral axis of a belt of the type referred to can, during manufacture of the belt, be located at any desired point withinl the belt. This neutral axis of a belt is the definition for that portion between the top and bottom of a belt which, when the belt is rotated about an .axis such as the axis of a pulley, it is not stretched and thereby causes stretching of other portions of the belt adjacent its neutral axis. Obviously therefore it is desirable and preferable to locate the wire members 35 and 6| disclosed in this application along the neutral axis of the belts 2| and 2| a so that the same will not be subjected to abnormal stretching. It is highly important to the principle of the present invention to make the wire members 35 and 6| small and to dispose these members within belts 2| and 2 la in the central portion cf web 25, which portion of belts 2i .and 2|a is the so-called neutral axis thereof, so as to prevent stiifening of the belt while at the same time not impairing the original flexibility of a belt by insertion therein of wire members as disclosed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved belt end connecting construction for belts made from strips of belting material. My improved construction for connecting the ends of belts together provides a belt which is stronger than belts having their ends connected by conventional connectors and yet no stiffer than if the belt was formed integral or continuous throughout its entire extension. My invention prolongs the life of belts by providing a construction that will not cause damage to the The improved belt end connecting construction of the present invention permits a belt to be properly fitted between two or more pulley members, while at the same time eliminating the necessity of carrying a supply of continuous or integral belts of various lengths relative to one another for each diierent installation to be made.

While the forms of embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to lfgm a substantially endless band, a metal wire ber extending longitudinally within the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, means for securing portions yof the belt adjacent the ends thereof to said wire member for connecting the ends of the belt together, means attached to the belt and engaging other portions of said wire member beyond said secured portions of the belt thereto, and said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt to the wire member adjacent the belt ends.

2. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, a metal wire member extending longitudinally within the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, means for securing portions of the belt adjacent the ends thereof to said wire member for connecting the ends of the belt together, means passing through and attached to the belt for rigidly clamping other portions of said wire member to the belt beyond said secured portions of the belt to the wire member, and said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt to the wire member adjacent the belt ends.

3. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, a metal wire member extending longitudinally within the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, means for securing portions of thebelt adjacent the ends thereof to said wire member for connecting the ends of the belt together, means attached to the belt and engaging other portions of said wire member beyond said secured portions of the belt thereto, said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt to the wire member adjacent the belt ends, and said wire member being extended inwardly of the ends of the belt substantially beyond said last named means.

4. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, a metal wire member extending longitudinally within the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, means for securing portions of the belt adjacent the ends thereof to said wire member for connecting the ends of the belt together, means passing through and attached to the belt for rigidly clamping other portions of said wire member to the belt beyond said secured portions of the belt to the wire member, said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt to the wire member adjacent the belt ends, and

said wire member being extended inwardly of the ends of the belt substantially beyond said last named means.

5. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, means attached to the belt adjacent the ends thereof for connecting said ends together, said connecting means including a portion extending inwardly of the ends of said belt beyond the point of attachment thereof to the belt, means attached to the belt and engaging said extending portion of said connecting means for securing same to the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, and said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt end connecting means to the belt.

6. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, means attached to the belt adjacent the ends thereof for connecting said ends together, said connecting means including a portion lextending inwardly of the ends of said belt beyond the point of attachment thereof to the belt, means passing through and attached to the belt for rigidly clamping said extending portion of said connecting means to the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, and said last named means being located near the ends of saidbelt and spaced from the point of security of the belt end connecting means to the belt.

'7. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, means attached to the belt adjacent the ends thereof for connecting said ends together, said connecting means including a portion extending inwardly of the ends of said belt beyond the point of attachment thereof to the belt, means attached to the belt and engaging said extending portion of said connecting means for securing same to the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt end connecting means to the belt, and a portion of said belt end connecting means being extended inwardly of the ends of the belt substantially beyond the means for securing said extending portion thereof to the belt.

8. In combination, a belt having its ends connected together to form a substantially endless band, means attached to the belt adjacent the ends thereof for connecting said ends together, said connecting means including a portion extending inwardly of the ends of said belt beyond the point of attachment thereof to the belt, means passing through and attached to the belt for rigidly clamping said extending portion of said connecting means to the belt inwardly of the ends thereof, said last named means being located near the ends of said belt and spaced from the point of security of the belt end connecting means to the belt, and a portion of said belt end connecting means being extended inwardly of the ends of the belt substantially beyond the means for securing said extending portion thereof to the belt.

CHARLES L. PAULUS. 

